Season’s best performances pace track team

In preparation for its own Liberty Bell Invitational coming up this Friday (May 9), the Liberty Bell High School varsity track and field team linked together a chain of seasonal personal-best performances at the Draggoo Financial Oroville Invitational track meet on Saturday (May 3).

With two weeks remaining until the sub-district championships at Oroville on May 16, 15 Mountain Lions turned in their best efforts in 13 events while the team continues to build back to full strength.

“Our emphasis is always on competing at a high level and improving each week,” said coach Rocky Kulsrud. “We need to continue to get people healthy and keep them healthy for the upcoming championship season.”

Senior Austin Watson was one of those back in harness at the Draggoo, and he marked the occasion with a season’s-best long jump of 20 feet, 10.5 inches. He also anchored the boys’ 4×100 meter relay team.

The Liberty Bell boys won the team title with 99 points, five ahead of second-place Bridgeport in an 11-team field. The Liberty Bell girls finished 12th among 14 teams.

Besides Watson, others who continued to peak with late-season personal bests included Liam Daily and Josiah Klemmeck in the 1,600 meters, Evan Wagstaff, Micah Klemmeck and Hannah Hafsos in the 200 meters, Micah Klemmeck in the 400 meters, Andrew Reggiatore in the javelin, Zane Herrera in the shot put and Jake Pennock in the triple jump.

Ben Klemmeck’s 3,200-meter performance was not only his best this season but also is second-best all-time in the Liberty Bell record book — as was the first-place time of the 4×400 boys’ relay team comprised of Kelsey Jensen, Daily, Jaymis Hanson and Cesar Dominguez.

Lauren Fitzmaurice rose to seventh in the LBHS records with her finish in the 100-meter hurdles.

The Mountain Lions were scheduled to travel to Mustang country to compete in the Bridgeport Invitational Tuesday (May 6).

Volunteers are always in short supply at both the varsity and junior high invitationals. Those wishing to help out are encouraged to contact LBHS activities director Hunter Maltais at 997-2113 or hmaltais@methow.org.